Empowerment of Human Service Workers: Beyond Intra-Organizational Strategies

Abstract

The need for workers to experience a sense of empowerment in the human service organizations where they are employed is essential, but insufficient. The conceptualization of worker empowerment also needs to extend beyond the organizational context toward a broader context. In this article, the authors review the construct of social worker empowerment, examine conditions which negatively impact the potential for empowerment, and suggest strategies available to administrators and workers for increasing the potential for empowerment both within and beyond the organizational work setting.